“He doesn’t know she exists. There’s a difference. How can he care about his child when he doesn’t know he has one?” Simone gave her a gentle smile. “You have a daughter together. You need to tell him about Charlotte. He deserves to know.”
Tessa withdrew from Simone’s embrace, her skin cold, her mind numb. “What if he tries to take her from me?”
“Do you believe him that cruel?”
“I don’t know what to think.” He would be angry that she’d hid Charlotte from him, she knew this. Such a staunch believer in tradition and family, he would yank Charlotte right from her arms at the first opportunity. He might declare her an unfit mother with no funds and no expensive nanny to take care of their child since she had to work for a living. “He was terribly cruel to me the last time I spoke to him. I doubt he’s changed.”
“He misses you,” Simone said softly.
Tessa waved a hand, dismissing the comment. “I don’t believe it.”
“He looked rather lost when he talked about you.”
A jolt moved through her. “He talked about me?”
“He spoke of the love he lost. I think he was referring to you.”
Before Tessa got a chance to ask her what she meant about that, the bell above the door rang, indicating a customer walked in. Simone took care of it, allowing Tessa some time alone so she could compose herself. She went into the tiny bathroom and splashed water on her face, then stared at her reflection in the mirror.
Dark circles shadowed the fragile skin beneath her bloodshot eyes. Her lips were swollen, her nose red from crying. She looked blotchy, horrible. She’d noticed the way Alex’s gaze had run over her body, lingering on her breasts. They were much fuller since she breast-fed Charlotte, and her body was curvier in general.
She’d changed, both outside and in. She wasn’t the silly, stupid girl anymore who fell for all of his lies. She was stronger, braver. Moving to another country, finding a new job and having a baby all in the span of a year did that to a woman.
And she was proud of herself. But a few moments alone in Alex’s presence and he’d reduced her to a blubbering mess.
Straightening her spine, Tessa walked back out into the store and started straightening up for the night. It was nearly closing time, and her sister would be here with the taxi waiting. She could’ve called her own taxi but at least with Gina waiting for her, she had a support system. Someone she could talk to, a shoulder to cry on as they headed back home. And her sweet baby to cuddle too.
The unnecessary expense of the taxi would be worth the heartache of being approached by Alex one more time. He was so determined—if he wanted to talk to her, he would find a way. Not that he’d have any real reason to talk to her, at least in his mind. They were finished.
Through.
Chapter Sixteen
Tessa hurried out the front door of Mon Amour, the French woman holding the door open for her as she came onto the sidewalk. The crowds had thinned to almost nothing, giving Alex a perfect view of her looking this way and that just before she jabbed her hands into the pockets of her black coat.
Alex wondered if she could feel his gaze upon her.
A taxi pulled up to the curb and stopped next to her and the back door popped open. Casting one more quick glance around, she hopped into the car and slammed the door.
Moving away from the side of the building, he went to the sidewalk, saw the taxi pull into the crowded street. Waving another taxi down, he jumped into the back seat, offering a curt, “Follow that car,” in French and thrusting a one hundred dollar bill in the driver’s face.
The man nodded and smiled, snatching the bill from Alex’s fingers. The taxi Tessa occupied was easy to find since it hadn’t gained much distance what with the crowded roads and he breathed an inward sigh of relief when the driver pulled in directly behind Tessa’s taxi.
She wasn’t alone. He saw two dark heads from the back window of the taxi. Fear swirled in his gut and a wave of nausea slid over him. What if she’d met another man? What if she’d fallen in love with him and was living with him? It made sense, explained her seemingly spontaneous move to England. The Tessa he remembered was calm and quiet and didn’t seem to be one wont to spontaneous adventures.
Maybe he’d been wrong. Maybe he hadn’t known Tessa whatsoever. For all he knew, she could be a completely different person than the woman he thought he’d fallen in love with.
Frowning, Alex leaned against the seat and glanced out the window. They were getting out of the shopping district now, heading deeper into a residential district and realized the taxi was most likely taking her home.
He would know where she lived.
Damn it, he should call this off and end the chase. He was wasting his time, behaving like an irrational stalker. What good would it do, knowing where she lived if she lived with another? Had given her heart and body to another? If he wanted to torture himself and end up feeling like shit, he was doing a bang up job of it so far.
About to ask the taxi driver to turn around and take him back to his hotel, the car in front of them pulled over in front of a tall building. “Stay back,” Alex said instead, his gaze zeroed in on the car, waiting breathlessly for Tessa to exit.
Anxious to see who vacated the car, he leaned forward, curling his hands along the edge of the seat in front of him. Tessa stepped out first, quickly followed by another woman of similar height, clutching a bundle of pink in her arms.
A baby.
Confusion swamped him and he gripped the edge of the seat tighter. Who was the other woman? And where did the baby come from?
“Wait here,” he commanded, opening the door and climbing out of the car. He strode toward where Tessa stood. She held the baby now, the other woman paying the cab driver.
Cuddling the baby close, her mouth rested at the side of the baby’s head, her eyes half closed as she swung gently to and fro. She was crooning sweet words, he heard her lilting voice murmur. She didn’t even notice his approach.
“My sweet baby girl. Did you miss your mommy today?” The words finally reached him.
Stunned him.
Devastated him.
Alex stilled. The baby belonged to Tessa.
“Is she mine?”
She jerked her head up, her gaze meeting his. Eyes wide and full of fear, she swung away, clutching the baby close as she hurried toward the building’s entrance.
He followed after her, catching up with her easily. She was halfway in the building’s tiny lobby and he was right behind her, grabbing hold of her by the coat and tugging her to a halt.
“Is she, Tessa? Is that our baby?” He didn’t know what to think, how to act. Could it even be possible? The baby didn’t look any older than six months. If he calculated the time right then yes, indeed that baby could definitely belong to him.
So why wouldn’t she tell him?
“She’s my sister’s.” Her voice trembled and she kept her hand over the baby’s face like she didn’t want him to see her. “Go away, Alex. You have no business being here.”
“If that baby is mine then hell yes, I have every reason to be here.” He curled his fingers around her arm and pulled, trying to get her to drop her hand away from the baby’s face. Something told him she was lying. She’d never been a good liar and instinct told him the baby belonged to him.
Which meant he had a daughter. That he hadn’t been there from the first infuriated him. Tessa had stolen those moments—and when the truth came out, he would make her pay.
Fury gripped him tight. She didn’t say a word, just tried to jerk out of his touch as best she could. The baby started to fuss, and she shushed her. “You’re lying.”
Wild eyes met his. She looked scared out of her mind—and she should. “Let go.”
The sister walked in at that precise moment, the expression of horror on her face vivid. The similarities were there and Alex didn’t have a doubt she was Tessa’s sister. But he didn’t believe for a second the baby belonged to her. �
��Leave her alone,” Tessa’s sister said.
He ignored her. “Let me see the baby, Tessa.”
She shook her head furiously and finally tugged out of his hold. “No.” She started up the stairs, the movement jostling the baby in her arms and she started to cry. “Sssh, Charlotte. It’s okay.”
Alex’s head reeled. Charlotte? His grandmother had been named Charlotte. Everyone knew this. It was part of the Worth Luxury family history. “You named her after my grandmother.”
The sister had followed her up the stairs and gave her a frantic push. “Go, Tessa. Don’t listen to him.”
“Why did you do that?” It touched him, despite his anger. That she still thought of him enough to name their child after the woman who had meant more to him beside his mother. His grandmother had always been there for him and his brothers when they were growing up. He’d adored her.
“Gina named her.” Tessa nodded toward her sister. Keeping the lie up. She went so far as to hand the now-calm baby to Gina but she started to wail all over again. “It’s just a coincidence.”
He glared at the sister who juggled the baby uncomfortably. She kept her eyes downcast, her cheeks were ruddy and still the baby continued to cry. The look of guilt was unmistakable. “Tessa, tell me the goddamn truth. Is the baby mine?”
She took Charlotte from her sister’s arms and the baby immediately quieted. Soothed by her mother no doubt. “Fine. You want the truth? Yes. The baby is—yours.” She choked on the last word, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Alex leaned against the wall and stared up at the three females who had just rocked his world completely. His body, his mind went numb, slowing down, shutting off. She’d confirmed it. He’d heard the truth come from her lips but still it was difficult for him to comprehend.
He was a father. He had a daughter. And he’d already missed out on so much.
Too much.
Tessa’s entire body shook. She clutched Charlotte close, winced when the baby grabbed a hunk of her hair and tugged. She deserved it. The pain, the punishment and this was only scratching the surface. What she did was wrong, she’d known this from the start but at first she’d been too angry to think he’d care to know he was going to be a father.
Once realization had sunk in, she thought about contacting him. But he probably would’ve believed her looking for money. He probably would’ve called her a liar and demanded a paternity test. He might still.
But there was no mistaking it. She’d never been with any other man. Charlotte was his.
“Why don’t we take this upstairs where you two can talk?” Gina suggested, the only voice of reason in the cramped entry of their apartment building.
“No.” Oh, his voice was so cold. “Tessa, I want you to come back with me to my hotel. Bring the baby with you.”
“But—” She couldn’t do that. To step into his world, to do things on his terms would be a sign of weakness. Once she let him take over, she’d be at a disadvantage and probably never regain her footing.
“No arguments. We’re doing this on my terms.” He plucked the words right from her brain. “I mean it, Tessa. I’m not in the mood to play nice. I wouldn’t go against my wishes, if I were you.”
“Don’t you dare threaten her, you no good bastard,” Gina muttered.
She could always count on her big sister defending her, and she loved Gina for it. “It’s okay Gina. I’ll go with him.” She shouldn’t but she didn’t have a choice. “I need to gather supplies for the baby first.”
“I have a taxi waiting outside. I’ll buy you new ones.” His impatience was clear.
“She has her favorite blanket and pacifier. Please, let me get her things.”
Reluctantly he nodded and they all went up the stairs, Alex right behind them, Gina in the middle as a buffer. Nerves bounced in Tessa’s stomach, and she felt like she was going to be sick. This was all her fault. She’d let this happen. But how could she have told him?
Maybe she should’ve run away farther. Australia. New Zealand. On the other side of the world still probably wouldn’t have been far enough. They had Worth locations in Australia. There were Worth Luxury stores everywhere.
He was everywhere. She couldn’t escape him no matter how hard she tried. If he wasn’t haunting her thoughts and dreams, wasn’t a constant reminder when she stared at her daughter’s sweet little face every day, then he was striding into the store she worked at like he owned the damn place. Now that he’d found her, she was afraid he wasn’t going to leave until he had what he wanted.
Charlotte.
They entered the flat and she went to her bedroom, taking Charlotte’s baby bag from Gina as she did so. She gathered a few articles of clothing, a pile of diapers, all the while Charlotte was lying in the middle of the bed and kicking up her heels. Completely unaware of the change that had just occurred in their lives.
Dropping the bag on the floor, she went to the bed and stripped Charlotte of her clothing and diaper. She held the sweet little bundle of naked flesh close to her, cooing in her ear, smoothing her hand over her downy-soft head, down her back. She smelled sweet, nuzzling at the spot where Tessa’s neck met her shoulder and tears formed in her eyes.
She couldn’t let this baby go no matter what. Charlotte belonged to her. She would fight to the very death for her child.
And if she had to fight against Charlotte’s father, then so be it. She was strong. She was determined.
She was ready to go into battle.
Chapter Seventeen
“I want to know everything.”
Tessa swallowed hard. “Everything?” Her voice squeaked. Sitting so close to Alex in the back of the taxi as they headed to his hotel, it reminded her of the past. When she rode with him everywhere during the relaunch tour, the many things that had happened in the back of the car…
Her skin warmed and she looked down at Charlotte, who slept contentedly in her arms. He hadn’t asked to hold her, look at her, nothing. She was merely a commodity to him and nothing else.
“Everything, Tessa.” She adored the way he said her name, even when he was frustrated and angry with her. God, she was sick. “When did you move? When did you discover you were pregnant? And why didn’t you tell me?”
Oh, the hard questions. No problem, she’d answer each and every one of them with brutal honesty.
If only she could gather the courage.
Taking a deep breath, she started in. “After you fired me, I went to live with my sister.” She saw him wince when she used the word fired, but she didn’t care. He needed to be reminded of his brutal behavior toward her.
“I made sure you received a generous severance pay.” He sounded strained.
“Yes, you did. I took that money and moved to London with it.” She refused to thank him, refused to grovel at his feet. What did he expect from her, complete submission?
She used to be that girl but not any longer.
“Your sister came with you.” He paused and turned his attention to the window, watching the lights of the city pass by. “To help you care for the baby?”
“I didn’t know I was pregnant until we were already in London. Gina and I decided to leave New York together, like taking an adventure. It had nothing to do with my pregnancy.”
“So you left without a job, without any sort of plan. Just packed everything up and moved on a whim.”
She could hear the judgment, knew he probably thought her completely stupid. “For once in my life, I decided to be spontaneous.”
He slid a glance toward her. “So what happened between us—that wasn’t you being spontaneous? Did you deliberately plan on getting pregnant?”
Her mouth hung open, so full of fury she could hardly find the words to speak. “I—I cannot believe you would say such a thing.”
“I’ve been with plenty of women.” Arrow straight to her heart with that particular statement, the bastard. “And I’ve never impregnated any of them.”
“That you know of.” She edg
ed closer to the door, clutching Charlotte as tight as she could without disturbing her. She’d told Alex she didn’t want to ride in a taxi without Charlotte’s car seat but he’d shoved her in, not allowing her to argue.
She hated him. For his hurtful words and negligent attitude, she hated him with all her might.
She also loved him…
“Trust me.” He cocked a brow and even through all the hate and anger she couldn’t deny he was so handsome he made her entire body ache. “I would’ve known. They would’ve demanded money. A piece of the Worth fortune.”
“I didn’t come after you for money,” she pointed out.
He studied her with his steely gaze. Assessing her, judging her, no doubt. “True. You’re unlike any woman I’ve ever been with.”
She didn’t know if she should be insulted or flattered.
“Why are you working at that little lingerie shop? Surely, you could find something better.”
Oh, that was definitely an insult. “I love working there. Simone has been nothing but accommodating with me and my schedule.”
His jaw tightened. “I cannot believe you work at such a place. You’re worth so much more. They must pay you a pittance.”
Again with the backhanded compliments. Why did he always have to confuse her so? “She’s been very loyal to me. Simone adores Charlotte.”
He glanced at the baby in her arms quickly before he looked away. “You could’ve worked at any fashion house in London. You have the experience.”
“But then they would’ve had to call for references and you would’ve known where I was.”
He stiffened his shoulders, his broad back like a thick, endless wall. Unapproachable, impossible to climb. “You hated me that much that you never wanted me to find you?”
The man was impossible. “You were the one who fired me. You kicked me out like I was a traitorous, lying bitch. You wouldn’t even listen to me.”
Alex faced her once more, his eyes full of misery. “I was wrong.”
“I know you were.”
Worth the Scandal: Worth It, Book 1 Page 17